Means foe



(No Model.)

R. STILWELL.

MEANS EUR APPLYING ELECTRICAL OR GALVANIC GURRENTS TO BEDS, GOUGHES, 85e.

N4 PETERS. Phuxo-Lnlwgnphen wmhingmn` DAC.

UNITE IATES ATENT EEICE,

RIcIIASoN STILWELL, E NEw YORK, N. Y., AsSIGNoR, RY' DIREcT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To nRADEoRD wILLARD AND EMELINE c. STIL- WELL,. BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

MEANS FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL 0R GALVANIC CURRENTS TO BEDS, COUCHES, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,853, dated October 2, 1883.

Application tiled March l5, 188,3. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RIcxAsoN STILWELL, of

`the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Means for Applying Electrical or Galvanic Currents to Beds, Couches, Mattresses and the like, of which the following is a specification.

In the application of electricity to beds, mattresses, couches, and the like, it has here- Io tofore been considered necessary to incorporate the electrical conductors and their adjuncts with the bed, couch, or mattress itself, thereby rendering Such appliances comparatively expensive and beyond the reach of a I 5 large portion of the community.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby electricity may be applied to sleepers, in connection with the use of any ordinary bed, couch, or mattress, thereby 2o saving the expense ofthe bed, couch, or mattress itself, and Llimiting the expense to that incidental'to the apparatus immediately einployed in the application of electricity to the person. y My invention comprises anovel means whereby this object is secured.

Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a transverse sectional View, of an apparatus constructed according to,my said invention.

A is a metallic-wire framework composed of wire, copper, or other suitable metal arranged in substantially the relation shown in Fig. lthat is to say, in such manner as to form meshes of greater or less diameter, which in practice may vary within wide limits, but

which may be stated as, say, three inches in width, more or less. This frame-work is designed to be laid on any ordinary or suitable bed, mattress, or couch, and to have electrical 4o currents transmitted through substantially its entire extent. In order to provide for this, one end of the said framework is connected by one or more wires, preferably by several, as represented'at c in Fig. 1, with a circuitwire, B, which connects with one of the poles of the battery C-as, for example, the positive pole thereof. These wires may be insulated by an india-rubber or other appropriate coating, when desired, in order that the currents may not be diverted therefrom 5o by accidental contact with conductors of electricity. In like manner the opposite end of the said frame is provided with. one'or more wires, (indicated at 1),) which connect with a circuit-wire, I), which in its turn is connected with one of the poles-as, for example, the positive pole-of the battery. This circuit-wire sh ould be insulated in such manner as to avoid the divergence of currents therefrom by accidental or other contact with conducting sub- 6o stances. It will be observed that the current ofthe battery being established, the said current, assuming the apparatus to be properly proportioned, (this latter is a matter of mere workshop skill,) will pass through the whole of the frame-work in -a continuous current proportioned to the intensity and uniformity of the action of the battery. The frame-work, being laid Vupon the surface of a mattress, bed, or couch, C, as shown in Fig. 2, either above 73 or below the blankets or sheets thereof, will cause the passage of the current of electricity in due proximity to the body ofthe person lying thereon, and it will effect in said person the curative or hygienic results known to be ex- 75 perienced from the application of electricity.

It is to be understood that any of the usual or known equivalents for galvanic batteries may be substituted in place of the battery to produce the requisite electrical currents 8o through the circuit-wires, and consequently through the frame.

As a new article of manufacture, a metallicwire frame provided with circuit-wire's,where- 85 by it may be connected with a galvanic battery or other source ofelectricity, the said frame being so proportioned that it may be placed upon a bed, mattress, or couch, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set 9o forth.

RIcxAsoN STILWELL.

Vitnesses EDWARD A. HoLLEY, RUDOLF H. RJELLMAN. 

